Bassinet



May 27, 1930. R. DOUGHERTY BASS INET Filed June 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m T N T m A TTOR/YE Y y 7, 1930. L. R. DOUGHERTY 1,760,301

BASS INEI Filed June 24. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a unnmum mm mumllrlv i? W EJNVENTOR I ATTORNEY 25 25 C' 26 a;

Patented May 27, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAURENCE R. DOUGHERTY, OF PENFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO H. D. IDOUGHERTY & COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA BASSINET Application filed .Tune 24, 1927. Serial No. 201,209.

My invention relates to devices known as bassinets. They are in reality beds for newly born infants, particularly those prematurely born or which from some cause or other require especial treatment and care.

In the case of prematurely born infants, particularly in that period immediately following birth, it is essential that the temperature of the room and the bed or bassinet in and upon which they are kept and cared for shall be not only of the required temperature but such temperature should be maintained at a uniform height.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an infants bed or bassinet of novel construction including means whereby it may be maintained uniformly at the temperature required or as directed by the physician who may be in charge.

It also is an object of the invention to provide a bassinet or infants bed having independent controllable means for regulating the temperature thereof, particularly that portion of the said bassinet or bed upon which the infant is supported.

I shall not undertake here to point out all of the objects and advantages which may be incident to my invention but other and additional objects thereof will be referred to in the detailed description thereof which follows or will be apparent from such description. In order that the invention may be readily understood and its practical advantages fully appreciated, reference should be 5 had to the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated one form of bed constituting a mechanical embodiment of the said invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a bassinet or infants bed embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the infant supporting means which is adapted to be supported upon the frame of the bassinet or bed in a manner as shown in Fig. 1 and also as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a view in central vertical longitudinal section of the bassinet or bed shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of the lights constituting the heating means and the circuits therefor.

In the drawings I have shown a frame structure comprising the posts 1 located at the four corners thereof, the upper ends of which are connected by means of side and end bars 2 and 3. The posts 1 are also connected by similar side and end bars 4 and 5 at points located at a height about two-thirds of the distance from the lower ends thereof toward the upper ends. The said bars comprise, in the construction shown, tubular members but it will be understood that they may consist of connections of rectangular or other shape. Intermediate end bars or rods 6 are also provided which extend between the posts 1 at the head and foot of the bed structure. The side bars 2 and 4 are connected by a series of upright posts or rods 7. The latter extend at right angles to the bars 2 and 4. The rods or bars 6 extend in parallel relation to the bars 3 and 5.

The support for the infant comprises a frame member of rectangular shape having side and end bars 10 and 11. The opposite ends of the said bars 10 project beyond the end bars 11. A sheet 12 of suitable material, preferably a textile fabric of one kind or another, is located in the opening or space formed by the side and end bars 10 and 11 and is connected to the said bars by a cord 15 which is laced through openings 16 in the sides and ends of the member 12 and around the side and end bars 10 and 11 as is quite clearly shown in the drawings. The cord 15 laced through the openings 16 and wound about the bars 10 and 11 constitutes an effective support for the sheet member 12 but allows a certain giving and resilience thereof whereby it is rendered more comfortable and more suitable as a support for an infant which may be laid thereon.

The portion of the bed frame immediately underneath the side and end bars 1 and 5 is inclpsed by outer sheathing 20, preferably of sheet metal, the said sheathing being connected by spot welding or other suitable means to the upright posts or legs 1 of the frame structure. The upper edge of the sheet metal sheathing 20 is, in the construction shown, located in contact with the outer sides of the side and end bars 4 and 5 and is connected thereto by spot welding, soldering or in any other suitable known manner. The opening at the lower side or end of the sheathing 20 is closed by means of a transversely extending plate 21, which plate is provided at its opposite sides and opposite ends with depending flanges 22 and 23 which fit closely against the inner surface of the lower portions of the sides and ends of the sheathing 20. The said flanges 22 and 23 may be secured to the adjoining portions of the sheet metal sheathing 20 by spot welding, soldering or otherwise. i

For the purpose ofheating the chamber formed by the sheathing 20, the sheet 21 and the infant supporting means shown in Fig. 2, I have provided a series of electric lights 25 and 26 mounted in parallel rows in alternate or staggered relation to each other as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. These lights 25 and 26 are connected in parallel in separate circuits 27 and 28. Each light is controllable by means of a switch 30 and the separate circuits 27 and 28 are independently controllable by means of switches 31 and 32. Current is adapted to be supplied to the circuits 27 and 28 and to the lights connected in parallel with the said respective circuits by means of line wires 33.

Telltale or signal lights 34 and 35 also are connected in parallel to the circuits 27 and 28 respectively. These lights are located in boxes 36 and 37 located upon one end of the sheathing 20 and are visible through windows of glass or other transparent material at 38. The presence or absence of a light visible through either of these windows indicates, if the circuits are closed, the condition of the said circuits.

The bulbs of the heating devices or lights 25 and 26 are mounted or are mounted in sockets 39 and 40'which in turn are mounted upon the angularly related opposite side portions of the top 41 of .a casing, the opposite sides 41' of which are provided with outwardly extending flanges 42 which are secured by means of bolts 43 to the bottom sheet 21 previously referred to. The circuits 27 and 28 are located in the said casing. The sockets 39 and 40 being located upon the angularly related side portions of the top 41 of the sald casing are inclined away from each other somewhat in the manner indicated in Fig. 4. This arrangement affords a convenient means for locating or position mg the bulbs of the lights with the incandescent fliaments therein in the region of the opposite sides of the flexible sheet 12 upon adapted to be which the infant is adapted to be sup orted.

The switches 31 and 32 are adapte to be actuated by rotatable buttons 31 and 32 as indicated in the drawings.

The support for the infant consisting of the frame having the side and end bars 10 and 11 to which the sheet 12 is connected is adapted to be supported either in horizontal position as shown in full lines in Figs. 1, 3' and 4 of the drawings or in inclined position as is indicated in dash and dot lines in Fig. 3. When in inclined position one end of the frame for supporting the flexible sheet 12 is elevated and the appropriate ends of the side bars 10 are placed upon one of the cross bars-6 as is indicated in Fig. 3. In order that the said infant supporting frame may be held against accidental longitudinal movement in either direction, whether in horizontal or in inclined position, I have provided one end of each of the side bars 10 with "downwardly extending lugs or projections 45. Men in horizontal position these lugs or projections are located upon opposite sides ofone of the end bars 5 and when in elevated or inclined position, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3, the said lugs or projections are located upon opposite sides of one of the cross bars or rods 6. In either case a sliding movement of the said frame and -of the supporting sheet 12 mounted thereon longitudinally or in the direction of the length of the bassinet or bed structure is revented.

s has been hereinbefore pointed out, the lights 25 and 26 are individually controllable and are also controllable in groups. It will be seen, therefore, that means is. provided whereby the temperature of the atmosphere in the region of the location of the bassinet or bed is in practical control of those in care of the infants who may be using the bassinet or bed. The presence of the sheathing 20 and of the bottom sheet 21 prevents undue dissipation of the heat which radiates from the hghts 25 and 26. Furthermore, not only does the material of the sheathing itself become heated and radiate heat but it confines and directs the heat which radiates from the lights 25 and 26 toward the under side of the support 12 for the infant. The structure thereby provides means whereby the heat what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A bassinet comprising a casing having sides and ends and a bottom and an open top, infant supporting means located above said casing and constituting practically a closure for the open top thereof a-casing supported upon the bottom of the first named casing, and electric heating elements mounted upon said second named casing and projecting upwardly therefrom, the said heating elements being located within the first named casing underneath the-said infant supporting means, the said second named casing being adapted to inclose the electric current conducting means for supplying electric current to the said electric heating elements.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this 20th day of June, A. D. 1927.

LAURENCE R. DOUGHERTY. 

